Trip Preparations for the Wrong Destination

We recently watched a very interesting documentary about the 1974 archaeological discovery of mass graves from before the time of Christ.   These mass graves were not of human bodies but life-size clay models of Chinese warriors. They were perfectly preserved for over 2000 years, except for the paint. From remaining paint fragments some of the clay statues have been repainted for display in the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors.

The clay warriors were commissioned - or, rather, commanded - by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. The workers had to finish all 8,000 before the Emperor's death, which of course they did not know when it would happen.  From the time the order to create them was given to when the Emperor died was ten years, and we have the proof that the project was completed in time. With today's technology it takes one month to make one warrior. Because each warrior had to be uniquely different in form and feature, no molds for mass production could be used.   Each statue bears the name of its creator and there are eighty-seven names.  Each of these master craftsmen would have had their own support team of workers, therefore making it possible to complete the work in time.

At the Emperors' death, his concubines, his officers, his staff and men close to him were given poison to drink giving them the honor of being buried with him so they could continue to serve him in the next life. The Emperor's tomb, - a scale model of his palace-  is huge and elaborate with his coffin surrounded by the coffins of those buried with him.

The Chinese had a strong belief in an eternity that simply continued, after death, the life as it was lived on earth. Therefore, much thought and planning went into what they would need to take with them so they would not be deprived of the comforts and position they enjoyed in their earthly life.  The Emperor's plans began with a 20 square mile underground city that would house all the treasures he would take with him .  This city would be protected by the terracotta army of 8,000 warriors.

As I watched this documentary, I could not help but feel so sad for the people who planned so diligently for a destination they had completely wrong.  We would laugh at someone who planned a trip to Jamaica and packed snow suits, sweaters, boots, scarves and gloves thinking that they would enjoy a skiing vacation. How unprepared they would be when their plane landed and they stepped out into the blazing sun.
We who believe the Bible, know where we are going.  We know that this earthly life is for a very short time and yet how often are we guilty of focusing 99% of our time planning this life and 1% of our time thinking about the next. Someone said, "Imagine all the grains of sand in all the beaches of the world, then pick up one grain of sand and let it represent the time span of your earthly life. Then consider that each of all the other grains of sand represent the same amount of time, but in eternity.  Then ask yourself why we try to cram everything into the one little grain of sand, totally oblivious to how insignificant it is in light of all eternity." 

As believers in the salvation Jesus provided for us, we know our destination. We know that this life is our 'preparation' time, and while we can take nothing with us out of this life - our eternity does depend on what we do with our life here.  All the striving we do to lay up for ourselves the things that make this earthly life comfortable will be left for someone else to enjoy... only the things done with eternity in mind will make a difference. And it is interesting to note that the 'treasure' we store up in heaven cannot be 'stolen' ~Matt. 6:19.We need no terracotta warriors to guard it!

Though we will step over the threshold of death with nothing in hand but our faith - we will find our eternal home perfectly planned and waiting for us to enjoy it. Everything that we could ever wish for and beyond what we could ever imagine will make our new life so exciting that this earthly life will lose all its allure. And best of all, we will see God in all His glory and live in His love and presence for ever more!

  "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; 

And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind". 

Isaiah 65:17

Who in the world is Erastus?

                                                                               photo source - www.bibleplaces.com

I know we all have a funny bone but I believe there must also be such a thing as a curious bone and mine is a little larger than most !

Sometimes I learn the most interesting things that begin with a detail that stirs up my curiosity.

One such detail grabbed me some time ago when I was reading Acts 19:22 which says ....

"So he (Paul) sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus ....."

I thought ... Timothy we all know... but who is Erastus ???

I wondered if he was mentioned anywhere else in scripture and I found another reference to him in II Tim. 4:20 where it states that Paul left him in Corinth. Erastus's name appears one more time in Romans 16:23. In this reference we are given a clue to his identity.

He was the "treasurer of the city" from which Paul was writing the letter to the Romans. The city was Corinth.

Not much to go on, but putting our gleanings together and reading between the lines we can know the following facts about Erastus...

1. He was a Christian
2. He was respected and valued by Paul
3. He ministered to Paul
4. He travelled with Paul
5. He was a friend of Timothy and went on mission trips with him
6. He was the treasurer of the city of Corinth

It was that last detail that gave me an idea. If Erastus was the treasurer of Corinth perhaps there would be some references to him in secular history.

And today how easy is it to pursue a trail with Google at our fingertips ever ready to guide us.

My search was enlightening.

I learned that in 1929 an archaeologist by the name of T.L.Shear found among the ruins of Corinth a paving stone. This paving stone bore an inscription that read "Erastus, Procurator and Aedile, laid this pavement at his own expense". (see photo of the paving stone above)

An 'Aedile' - latin - was someone in charge of the financial matters of a city.

The paving stone had been laid in the 50's AD which would have been the time that Paul's Erastus lived in Corinth.

What are the chances of there being two treasurers at that time named Erastus? Probably rather slim.

I did a little more digging and learned that in Rome anyone holding public office , such as treasurer would be a wealthy man and it was the wealthy men who personally paid for the public roads.

I thought about Timothy's father being Greek and perhaps also rich and/or influential. (Timothy also ministered to Paul - indicating that he had some wealth). Therefore, it made sense to me why Timothy would have been partnered with Erastus - they may well have found things they held in common besides their faith. Both holding family wealth and also perhaps both having pagan family members who did not agree with their belief in Jesus - perhaps even causing them personal opposition.

Erastus being a city official and therefore being wealthy would have been well able to minister to Paul and provide for his physical needs and comforts.

A few interesting details but my imagination flew to wondering what could have been the personal story of Erastus.

Was he married? did he have children?

How did he become a believer ?

He was a wealthy Roman in influencial places. Somehow, somewhere he heard about the followers of the new religion. Perhaps one in his own house was a believer who told him about Jesus. He was interested, the message found a receptive place in his heart. Was it a struggle for him to turn away from his Roman gods - to turn his back on what he had always been taught and believed ?

Was he ridiculed, mocked by his Roman family/friends?

Did he risk everything to follow Jesus?

What was he able to offer from his official city office that which was helpful to the church?

We know he was sincere, that his conversion was real and that it was wholehearted.

How often did he sit with Paul in deep conversation about the believers at Corinth and what was happening in the Corinthian church as well as the other churches that were being planted and growing in other cities.

He was an important person in Paul's life and therefore important to the early church and I regret that we know so little about him.

I have a list of the people I want to look up in eternity and ask them all the questions that I have about them.

Erastus is on that list!

*

The Ship is Sinking

Last week I saw a documentary about the Oceanos.
The Oceanos was a Greek cruise ship with the highest possible safety rating at Lloyds Registry of Shipping. She was sailing off the coast of South Africa when she hit turbulent waters and sank on Aug. 4,1991.

The crew discovered the ship was in trouble and instead of alerting the passengers they quietly lowered the life boats at 3:00 am. and deserted the ship.

The Captain was still on board but he did and said nothing, leaving the passengers unaware their very lives were in danger.

There were entertainers on board, Julian Butler and Moss Hills and His wife Tracy.
Despite the stormy weather they were doing their best to distract the passengers, but most of the 571 passengers were lying down in their berths.

It was Moss Hills who began to be concerned that not all was well with the ship and he went to speak with the captain who insisted all was well and that the ship was not in any kind of danger. Hills was not convinced and he went below deck to see for himself. What he saw, to his horror, was that the hull was rapidly filling with water. He realized that he would have to take charge if any one was to be saved.

He and his wife and fellow entertainer alerted the passengers to the imminent danger, handed out life jackets and ordered them all to the comparative safely of the top deck.
He radioed for help and several helicopters flew in for the rescue attempt.
The captain insisted that he be lifted to safety in the first helicopter - ignoring the age old rule that the Captain goes down with his ship.
(He, along with members of his crew, were later charged with negligence by the Greek Maritime Board.)

Thanks to the three entertainers, all 571 passengers were airlifted to safely. Butler, Hills and Tracie were among the last 5 to be airlifted, just before the ship sank.


An investigation revealed that there had been an unrepaired leak in the watertight bulkhead which would not have been a problem except that a door had been carelessly left open allowing the water to spread to the other departments. Also the port holes had not been closed by the fleeing crew which was standard procedure in an emergency. Because the port holes were open when the ship turned on its side it could not right itself because of the water rushing in through the port holes.


At the end of the documentary Hills commented. "What I learned from my experience was that rules are there for a reason and when obedience to these rules is neglected the results are disastrous."


I saw this story as a parable.

Our Ship Earth has the highest safety rating that can be given to any ship sailing through the universe.

Original Sin has caused a leak in Ship Earth, but this in itself would not be a problem if the safety rules, given by God Himself were followed. They have, however, been blatantly ignored and disobeyed.
Consequently, Ship Earth is sailing toward destruction, but its passengers are totally unaware of any danger.

When things go wrong, the 'crew' of this world looks out for number one. They are quick to lower life rafts to ensure their own safety instead of risking their lives to save others. The captains are paralyzed, turning a deaf ear and blind eye to any danger signs.
Their wisdom and advice will help no one in the day Ship Earth sinks.

There is only one hope.

There are 'entertainers' on board Ship Earth.
Christians - Their message is not taken seriously and is often good for a laugh.
It is the Christians who see that Ship Earth is in danger and they are the ones with hope.
Their message will save any passenger who hears and obeys.
Everyone who hears their message and receives it will be air lifted to safety,
saved from eternal death to enjoy eternal life!

The lesson from the Oceanos.....
God has given us rules regarding every aspect of our life. His rules are not given to make our life difficult but to make it 'safe' . He gave us the 10 commandments, He lay before us the blessings in Deut. 28 and warned us of the curses (consequences) that follow disobedience. As surely as the rules of gravity cannot be ignored without hurt, so also God's other rules cannot be ignored without dire consequences.
May we learn to seek to know the rules that God put into place,
and obey them, every one.

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Matt. 22:36-40

********

The Egyptian Book of the Dead

When God speaks, He speaks not from the lofty realms of His heaven.

He speaks in a down-to-earth way that man understands. He uses the language and customs of the current society.

While the cultures that existed at the time God dictated the scriptures have long since disappeared, we today have , via the Internet , information at our fingertips that would even a few short years ago been difficult , if not impossible, to find.

Yesterday, I came across some interesting information that shed new light on my understanding of a couple of Scripture passages.

I was reading a translation of the Egyptians' Book of the Dead. The oldest copy we have is from about 1900 BC. That is before the time of Joseph in Egypt.

I became interested in the detailed , deeply religious rituals they carried out as part of the 70 day embalming process.

I want to focus on two of them and how they surprisingly enlightened my understanding of scripture.

1. The ritual concerning the heart ...

The rituals regarding the heart were regarded as extremely important.

The Egyptians believed in an afterlife but only if their heart was judged sinless would they be allowed to enter a joyful eternity.

They believed that they would be met by many gods who had the power to judge them worthy to enter eternity or to condemn them to torment.

The judgement depended on the weighing of their heart. It would be placed on a scale .....and weighed against a feather.

It was believed that a heart was made heavy by sin and only if it was sinless could it weigh less than a feather ! If it weighed more - the person was condemned to torment and then to being devoured by a beast.

Facing judgement, the deceased Egyptian was called upon by the gods to make what was called a Negative Confession.

Here is the Negative Confession he was required to confess.

*

"I haven't committed sin.

I haven't committed robbery with violence.

I haven't stolen.

I haven't slain men and women.

I haven't stolen grain.

I haven't purloined offerings.

I haven't stolen the property of god.

I haven't uttered lies.

I haven't carried away food.

I haven't uttered curses.

I haven't committed adultery - I haven't lain with men.

I have made none to weep.

I haven't eaten the heart.

I haven't attacked any man.

I am not a man of deceit.

I haven't stolen cultivated land.

I haven't been an eavesdropper.

I haven't slandered any man.

I haven't been angry without just cause.

I haven't debauched the wife of any man.

I haven't polluted myself.

I have terrorized none.

I haven't transgressed the law.

I haven't been wroth.

I haven't shut my ears to the words of truth.

I haven't blasphemed.

I am not a man of violence.

I haven't been a stirrer up of strife.

I haven't acted with undue haste.

I haven't pried into matters.

I haven't multiplied my words in speaking.

I have wronged none - I have done no evil.

I haven't worked witchcraft against the Pharaoh.

I have never stopped the flow of water.

I have never raised my voice.

I haven't cursed god.

I haven't acted with arrogance.

I haven't stolen the bread of the gods.

I haven't carried away the khenfu cakes from the Spirits of the dead.

I haven't snatched away the bread of a child, nor treated with contempt the city god.

I haven't slain the cattle belonging to the god."

*

Obviously there were not many Egyptians who could die unafraid to recite the Negative Confession.

So man being man and the Egyptians being rather resourceful, they came up with a safety net plan.

The Egyptians believed that the heart , because it was always truthful , would witness against them when they recited the confession before the gods.

So to avoid being betrayed by their own heart, they cut the heart out of the deceased Egyptian and replaced it with a heart carved out of stone on which were written magic incantations.

Then when the Negative Confession was recited - the heart , being stone, could not speak and therefore could not witness against the Egyptian. He would be saved by his hard stone heart and be found innocent by silence !!

*

We read the story of Pharaoh. We read the verses that speak of Pharaoh's hard heart!

The Israelites at that time very clearly understood what a hard heart was. They were familiar with the Egyptians' rituals for the dead and also their religious beliefs.

When God said "Pharaoh's heart is hard..." (Ex.7:14) the Israelites would have had the picture in their mind of the 'stone heart' that replaced the flesh heart of the dead Egyptian.

But it is interesting that while the Egyptians believed that a 'hard' stone heart would save them, God showed it turned about. It was the hard heart that rejected God and therefore suffered eternal punishment.

A stone heart does not turn God's eyes away from the man whose heart bears witness of the sin he committed.

*

2. The ritual of the opened mouth ....

*

The other ritual that I found interesting was the very last one that was performed on the mummified body before it was laid in the tomb. This was an extremely important ritual , in fact it was considered the most important.

Using a forked tool, the mouth of the deceased was pried open. (If you want to see a rather frightening photo you may find it here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/mscheltgen/103608381/ )

*

It was the open mouth that restored all the senses and body faculties to the deceased enabling him to enjoy to the fullest all the delights and joys of the afterlife !

The Israelites understood this Egyptian ritual.

With their mind set read this this verse in Psalm 81:10......

"I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it."

Notice that God does not pry your mouth open...He invites you to open it ! and He promises to fill it !! Not only with the good things of this life but also the wonderful things pertaining to the life to come !

*
photo credit ( http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=4&q=Egyptian+mummies+&m=text)

A Roman Emperor

I found history in school boring when it concerned politics but fascinating when it centered on people. I love 'people watching'. No two people are ever the same, isn't it amazing? And yet we ARE all the same in how we think and feel and relate to the world around us. Have you ever thought about it, that if we weren't the same we could never learn from each other because one person's experiences would not be applicable to another ?

People's lives and experiences always interest me ....but there is an added fascination when those lives and experiences can be viewed through the lens of time.
For me, some of the preserved written accounts of events that happened thousands of years ago hold extreme value.

I came across one such account yesterday and while it wasn't new to me, it thrilled me again and I thought perhaps it might be a first read for some of you -- my friends online. I want to share it with you.

The following account was recorded by Justin Martyr , an early Church father, who lived 110-165 AD.
Think about it... the edict - that you are about to read - by a Roman Emperor was written about a hundred years after Jesus was crucified.

OK... here is it ....

The Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelus Antoninus Germanicus, Parthicus Armaticus, to the People of Rome and to the sacred Senate… Greeting…

I explained to you my grand design and what advantages I gained on the confines of Germany, with much labour and suffering , in consequence of the circumstance that I was surrounded by the enemy - I myself being shut up in Carnuntum by seventy-four cohorts, nine miles off.

And the enemy being at hand, the scouts pointed out to us and our general Pompeianus showed us that there was close on us a mass of a mixed multitude of 977,000 men, which indeed we saw, and I was shut up by this vast host, having with me only a battalion comprised of the first, tenth, double and marine legions.

Having then examined my own position and my host, with respect to the vast mass of barbarians and of the enemy, I quickly betook myself to prayer to the gods of my country .
But being disregarded by them I summoned those who among us go by the name of Christians.

And having made inquiry I discovered a great number and vast host of them and raged against them which was by no means becoming; for afterwards I learned their power.

Wherefore they began the battle, not by preparing weapons, nor arms nor bugles, for such preparation is hateful to them, on account of the God they bear about in their conscience.
Therefore it is probable that those whom we suppose to be atheists, have God as their ruling power entrenched in their conscience.
For having cast themselves on the ground, they prayed .. not only for me, but also for the whole army as it stood, that they might be delivered from the present thirst and famine, For during five days we had got no water, because there was none; for we were in the heart of Germany, and in the enemy’s territory.
And simultaneously with their casting themselves on the ground and praying to God (a God of whom I am ignorant), water poured from heaven, upon us most refreshingly cool, but upon the enemies of Rome a withering hail.
And immediately we recognized the presence of God following on the prayer – a God unconquerable and indestructible.

Founding upon this, then , let us pardon such as are Christians, lest they pray for and obtain such a weapon against ourselves. And I counsel that no such person be accused on the ground of his being a Christian.
But if any one be found laying to the charge of Christian that he is a Christian, I desire that it be made manifest that he who is accused as a Christian and acknowledges that he is one, is accused of nothing else than only this , that he is a Christian, that he who arraigns him be burned alive.

And I further desire that he who is entrusted with the government of the province shall not compel the Christian , who confesses and certifies such a matter, to retract, neither shall he commit him.

And I desire that these things be confirmed by a decree of the Senate. And I command this my edict to be published in the Forum of Trajan, in order that it may be read. The perfect Vitrsius Pollio will see that it be transmitted to all the provinces round about, and that no one who wishes to make use of or to posses it be hindered from obtaining a copy from the document I now publish.
(anteNicen Fathers Vol. I pg 187)

Do you realize to what extent this Emperor's desires were met ? To the degree that you and I thousands of years later are still not "hindered from obtaining a copy" of the document this Emperor published !!
I love how God preserved this record of His intervention on behalf of the prayers of His people. In the words of a Roman Emperor, our God is indeed "unconquerable and indestructible."
*****

Why are You Called 'Christian' ?

The answer lies hidden in the story of a city. An ancient city called Antioch.

Millennia ago, Alexander the Great had just ended the battle in which he defeated the Persian king , Darius III. He immediately continued on his way to lay siege against Tyre.
On his way he passed a spring from which he quenched his thirst. The water was so refreshing he stayed long enough to order a temple built for the god Zeus and claim the site on which to build a city!
When Alexander the Great lay on his deathbed shortly after in 325 BC , before his 33 birthday, he was asked to name his successor . His answer ? “The strongest.”
One of Alexander’s noted generals Seluecus proved himself the ‘strongest’ and took the reins to rule the Roman kingdom.

In 300 BC Seluecus planned and built a city on the site chosen by Alexander the Great, naming the well planned city, Antioch, after his father.
The city was laid out in such a way that it took advantage of the shade in summer and the sun in winter. The main roads were positioned to catch the breezes that blew up the valley from the sea.
Lying along the banks of the Orontes river, made Antioch ideally located to maximize commerce opportunities with the rest of the world.
Antioch was also very beautiful. Its cypress trees, mountains and waterfalls as well as the Temple of Apollo made it a popular resort for the rich and famous.
An Olympic stadium was built and its games rivalled that of Greece.
Rome added colonnades, fountains, public buildings and a basilica built by Julius Caesar which he named Kaisarion – after himself. Roman statues of emperors and gods lined the streets and an amphitheatre housed the gladiator fights.
A theatre, private baths, ‘houses of pleasure’ , worship of false gods all contributed to the gradual slide into degradation, turning Antioch into a city known for its immorality and vile reputation.

Antioch was shaken by a strong earthquake in AD 37. The Roman Emperor at the time was Caligula , son of Julius Caesar, who immediately ordered the repair of the buildings that were damaged and spared no funds, not only for necessary repair but also many new buildings.
At this same time Jesus Christ was crucified some 300 miles to the south. Antioch had no idea that they would most be remembered because of this man hanging on the cross , crucified as a common criminal. I'm sure they gave Him no thought!

From this time on… Antioch is woven through the pages of our New Testament scripture.
When the seven deacons were chosen in Jerusalem , one of them was Nicolas who was from Antioch.
It was to Antioch that some of the believers fled when Stephen was stoned. Luke tells of the great number of people who turned to faith in Jesus there... one of them a close friend of Herod the Tetrach.
Barnabas called to teach the new and thriving church in Antioch, went first to Tarsus to find Paul and take him along.
It was also in Antioch that Paul openly rebuked Peter for not eating with the Gentile Christians.
And it was in Antioch that Paul was called to be a missionary !

But Antioch is not remembered for her early church. She is not remembered for the great emperors of Rome who made her famous in her day. They have long faded into historical memory.
The lasting mark Antioch left on the world is the word "CHRISTIAN".
It was in Antioch that believers were first called Christians.

It is not the Jews who coined the name .. they used the name Nazarene to refer to Jesus … and the followers of Jesus called themselves brethren or believers.
The only ones who could have first applied the name would have been the Greeks or Romans who were called to settle the conflicts when Orthodox Jews attacked the new sect.
Romans were familiar with calling followers after the name of him they followed - followers of Caesar were called Caesarini, followers of Pompey, Pompeiani.
And so it entirely possible that a Roman police called out yet again to break up a mob may have exclaimed in annoyance. .. “It is those Christians again!”

And the name stuck…. Thousands of years later we are still called Christians – followers of Jesus Christ. But sadly the name has lost its rich meaning. How many people who take on the name are really hardly aware of what it means to be a follower of the man/God who walked this earth and died and rose again !!

“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26)
********

(credits - historical facts taken from Charles Ludwig's Handbook of New Testament Rulers and Cities. )